Stapling mechanism



`March 13, 1928.

E. P. SHELDON STAPLING MECHANISM Filed Jn. 28, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 13, 1928.

1,662,442 E. RSHELDON STAPLIN@ MECHANISM Filed Jan. 2S, 1926 5 sheets-sheet 2 March 13, `1928.

E. P. SHELDON STAPLING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 28.` 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVSNTQR 3.5325 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 E. P. SHELDON STAPLING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 28,

IITHII March 13, 1928.

d) 1in. L

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March 13, 192s. 1,662,442

E. P. SHELDON S TAPLING MECHANI SM Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

'igea-2,442:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD r. snnnnon, OF BROOKLYN, new Yoan, Assreivonro n. Hon a oo., INC., or"

New' YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or New YORK.

s'rArLiNG MECHANISM.

Application` filed January ments in wire stapling mechanisms.

In wire stapling mechanisms as now gen-` erally constructed, the staple forming mech'- anism takes a piece of wire and forms 1t into a staple, generally of U shape, having a backand legs. This staple is driven through the product b y a staple inserting mechanism which acts to force the legs of aV staple l0 through the product, these legs being clenched againstV a suitable cooperating anvil. In operating the mechanisms, particularly when a thick product is to be stapled, diiiiculty has been experienced in properly inserting the staples, due to the tendency of the back of the staple to bend or buckle, so that the staple is not driven through the product and an imperfect productresults.

It is the principal object of the present invention to produce a staple inserting mechanism in which the back and legs of the staple are directly supported after the staple is formed and during the staple inserting operation, so that this tendency of the staple to buckle or bend is overcome and perfect stapling may be effected with any thickness of product.

It is a further Object of the invention to produce an improved stapling mechanism :lo

are compactly arranged so that a small stapling cylinder or other carrier for the stapling mechanism may be used.

A further object of the invention 1s to provide a stapling mechanism which maybe simply and readilyadjust-ed for staphng either collected or uncollected products.

With these and other objects not specitically referred to, the invention consists in certain novel parts, arrangements and combinations which will be described in con-` nection with the accompanying drawings, in which-` Figure l is a cross sectional view, partly broken away, through the carrier by which the stapling mechanism is supported, showing the parts arranged for stapling a collected product, the parts being shown in the position' they occupy the first half revolution of the carrier;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the position they occupy the second half revolution of the carrier;

embodying this feature in which the parts` 28, 1926. Serial N0. 84,264.

Figure y3 is a similar view showing `the the thirdhalf revolution of thecarrier;

Figure 4- is a similar `view showing the position of the partsvduring the fourth half revolution of the carrier; y

Figure 5 is a side View, partly in section, of the carrier, part of the wall of the carrier being broken away to more clearly show the construction, the View being taken in the direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 3 v y Y Figure 6 is a sectional side view, partly broken away, ofv the carrier showing the driving mechanism therefor, and the operating mechanism for driving the staple forming and inserting` devices for collected and uncollected products; i i t Figure 7 lis a face View of part of the gearing shownin F ig. 6 showing adjustment of thel gears when an uncollectedk product is to be stapled;

Figure S is a detail, partly sectional, View taken on the line 8-8 of F ig. 3in the direc- -tion ofarrow 8 of that figure; i

Figure 9 is a face view, partly broken away, of certain of the parts, ther view being taken in the direction of, arrow 9 of Fig. 3; 9

Figure 10 is a det-ail of the cam mechanism for operating the pins, the view being taken lookingin the direction of arrow 10 ofFig. 3, and

Figure ll is a detail, view takenv inside the cylindcrlookiug in. the direction of arrow 1l of Fig. Il.

Referring now to these drawings, the mechanism chosen to illustratev the invention is capacitated to operate with either parts in the positionthey occupy during.

`partly sectional,

collected or` uncollected products, means be.-

2 being provided with a driving gear 5 by which it may be driven from any suitable source of power, not illustrated. The machine shown is capacitated to insert a line of staples in the product, two such mechanisms being shown, illustrated generally by the numerals G, 7 in Fig. lt will be understood, of course, that the mechanisms may be duplicated to insert as many staples in the product as may be desired. These stapling mechanisms cooperate with a suitable abutment, shown in the form of aJ cylinder S, which is provided with anvils 9 against which the stapling is eiected.

In the particular construction shown, the cylinder 1 is a collecting and cutting cylinder, being provided with sheet taking devices in the form oi pins l() and a cutting knife 11 supported in a holder 12 mounted in a bloei; 3 secured in the cylinder wall. The holder 1i). is recessed, as indicated at 13 1n Figs. 2 and 4, to receive the cheeks 1l which are spring seated on springs 15. rlhe cutting knife ll cooperates with the usual cutting wood 16 on the cylinder The stapling mechanisms (3, 7 are identical in construction and a description of one will su'liice for both. Thilo the specilie construction of this mechanism may be ot' various characters, as illustrated, the staple formingl mechanism is operated from a shaft 17 suitably supported in the cylinder, and the staple driving mechanism is operated from a second cross shaft 18 suitably supported in the cylinder. The operation o1 these mechanisms is controlled by a pair ot cams 19, 20, which are loosely journalled on the driving shaft f2, before referred to. In accordance with the invention, means are provided whereby these cams may be operated to insert a staple at every revolution of the carrier or at every other revolution. Vv'hile this may be eil'ected in various ways, the operating cams 1S), 9.() aie arranged so that they may be stationaryv with respect to the cylinder. which arrangement is used where a product is to be stapled at each revolution, or they may be given a movement with the cylinder but at hall' the speed thereo'l, so as to elliect the stapling and collecting i'unction in the particular machine shown at every other revolution oi the cylinder, the collecting pins beingr likewise operated. As the saine construction preiierably employed for each of the cams, but one such construction will be described. is shown, see Fig-s. (i, 7, the cam 20 carries a gear 2l, which meshes willi a gear on an eccentric shaft Ql. This eccentric shaft Q3 carries a `gear 9,4, which is arranged to be thrown into mesh with a `rear tast on the shaft 2 ol the cylinder. In the construction shown, the parts are in the position they occupy when a product is being collected and stapled at every other revolution of the carrier. In Fig. 7, the eccentric shaft is shown rocked to throw the gears 22 and out o1 mesh with gears Q1 and 25, in which position the stapler is operated to staple a product at every revolution of the cylinder. This eccentric shatt may be manipulated by means ol a handle :26, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7.

The staple forming mechanism is of the usual type, comprising a pair ot staple carryine members :27, :25, which talte a wire lcngtn cut oil' by a suitable mechanism. not shown, these members -ooprra'ing with the staple lorn'nng horn 2f), eccentric io the carrier, which bends up the wire length to 'torni the legs ot the staple. 'lfheI-:e staple carrying members are each provided with a pair ol" side projections 25o, 31, best shown in Figs. l and 2, which worlt in a guidcway 32 (Fig. 5) toi-ined in a plugl ll in a recess in a block 3l secured in the cylinder walls. These staple carrying members are operated in any suitable manner. 1n the particular construction shown, they are operated, as before stated, from the shaft 1T. lVhile the spccilic means Al'or giving these staple forming members a reciprocating movement may be faried, in the` particular construction illustrated, sce particularly Figs. 1 and 8, the shafty 1T has keyed thereto a pair of hubs 35, 3G provided with arms 3T, 38. These staple carrying members; are provided at their inner ends with slotted ears 2li), 1U, these ears being secured to the arms 3T, 38 by pins 11, #12, these pins hav ing a slight play in the slot, as iiulicated by dotted lines in Fig. l.

The cam 19 is lormed so as to operate the shalt 1T to drive the staple forming members beyond the periphery of the c vlinder, as shown in Fig. 1, during the first halt' revolution ot the cylinder, the cam roll engaging the groove in the rain l). being shown in dotted lines at the righthand side ol Figure 5, the cam roll beiircr connected with the shaft 1T in any suitable manner. The staple members are then retracted within the cylinder during the next three hall' revolutions, as shown in Figs. Il and -l, these members carrying the staple between them. as shown in Fig. S. the staple being held by the spring olvthe wire.

The staple is driven into the product and clenched by a suitable driving plunger, best shown in Figs. 5 and c. marked 4 3. This plunger is, as shown in Fig. t. in the form of a bar which opeiaitef;I betvreen the staple forming members 2T, li`his plunger at its inner end is iin'med with an extension ll which works through a guide piece l5 (Fig. 1) secured to the cutting knife carrying block i3, before rel'erred to. Means are provided for reciprocating thisl plunger to drive the staple and in the particular construction lll) illustrated, this plunger is operated from the cam through the` rock shaft 18, before referred to. lVhile this may be accomplished in various ways, in the particular construction illustrated, the rock shaft 18 H as shown in` Fig. l.

has keyed thereon a pair of lever arms 46, 47 (Fig. y8) to which, by means of pins 48, is secured an ear 49 on the plunger, the pins having a lost motion connection in the-ear, By the operation of the cam 20, this plunger is operated to drive the formed staple'into the product.

In accordance with the invention, rmeans are provided for supporting the-staple between the product and the plunger', these mea-ns being arranged to lie between the legs of the staple and to provide a rigid support for th-e staple back so that the back cannot bend or crimp while it is being driven into the product, and the construction and operation of these means may be varied within wide limits. In the best construction, however, these means will be of sucha character and so operated that they will come into position after the staple is formed and will remain in position during the time the staple is being driven, so that during thel staple forming and driving operations anyliability of the staple to bend or crimp is effectually prevented.

In the particular construction illustrated, these means include a support or abutment which is given a reciprocating movement to and from the staple, the support being so shaped that as it is withdrawn during the staple forming operation it decreases in thickness proportionatelyy as the staple is driven into the product, so that as the staple is driven space is provided for the passage of the staple legs into the product.` In the i particular construction illustrated,y this support or abutment is in the form of a slide 51, see Figs. 1 to 4, this slide having an operating end 52 substantially thewidth of a staple inside the staple legs. Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, it will be observed that the operating end 52 of this slide has an outer surface of the same curvature as the periphery of the cylinder and an inner surface which is bevelled from a thin outer point 53.` The outer wall of the plug 33, before referred to, is also correspondingly bevelled, as indicated at 54 in Fig. 3, the amount of this bevel and the bevel on the slide 51 being substantially the depth of astaple leg at the point of insertion of a staple. It will be observed, referring to Figs. 2 and 3, that as'the staple is formed and is brought to the stapling point the slide is reciprocated to lie between the staple legs. As the staple operation proceeds, the Aslide is gradually withdrawn and, owing to the bevel on the inner face of the slide, the slide will act asa support for the staple during the entire stapling operation, the slide being withdrawn entirely from the staple afterthe latter has been inserted iu the product, as shown in Fig.`4. r

lith this construct-ion therefore the staple is supported, after it has been formed and during t-he entire staple inserting operation, so that no crimping of the back of the staple-can take place, and thus a perfect stapling of the product is assured. I

This slide operates in a groove, indicated at 55 in F igs. 1 to 4, in the cylinder Wall, the slide being guided by the walls of the groove. In the best construction, means are provided for stopping the slide accurately in either its forward or operating position, or in its Withdrawnposition. While various means may be provided for, effecting this, in the particular vconstruction illustrat-ed, the slide is provided with aprojec- `tion having a rear shoulder 57 and a front shoulder 58. In the forward position of thev slide, the shoulder 58 abuts against a 4stop plate 59, and'in the rear position of end wall 60 of the groove. If desired, the slide may be provided with a tail 61, which rides on the inner surface of thecylinder walland acts as a steadying means for guiding and steadying the slide in its reciprocating movements. e

This slide may be operated in any suitable or `desired manner. In the best constructions, to obtain accuracy in the position of the slide, it is operated from and timed with the driving plunger 43, before referred to, so that as the driving plunger goes forward to insert the staple the slide isl gradually withdrawn rso that a staplek can be driven. In the particular construction illustrated, the slide is operated by a pin 62 between two arms 63, 64 of a bell crank lever pivoted on a stud visecured in a bracket arm 66 supported from a bracket 67 secured to the block 13, beforeA referred to. vThe other arms 68, 69 ofthe bell cranlrhave secured between them, by a pin 70, the plunger 43, before referred to. As this plunger is forced forward by its operating mechanism, the slide is operated in a reverse direction to retract the slide from between the staple legs and vice versa.

When collecting, as in the machine illustrated, the sheet taking pins 10 are normally projected beyond the periphery of the cylinder to take a` sheet, and are withdrawn to release the sheet, so that the collected product may be forwarded and stapled.` `lVhile various mechanismsmay be employed for so operating these pins, in the particular construction shown they are operated by the cam 20, before referred to, through the rock shaft 18 in the following way, the construc- Sti rthe slide the shoulder `57 abuts against the vy lin 70 on a rock shaft 71 suitably journalled in the cylinder ends. The other arm of this lever is backed up by a springI rod construction T2. Which normally rocks the shalt T1 to project the pins, as shown in Figs. 1 and il. The pins are retracted by means ot' a roll T3 on an arm 74tfast on the rock shaft Tl. This roll is controlled by a cam having an operatingv nose 7G. This cam T5 1s carried on a cam rim:T TT loosely mounted on the shalt 2, before reterred to. This ring". see Fig. 5, has an arm 7S to which is pinned a lever arm 7) fast on the shaft 18. before rel'erred to. see Figs. l and 3. As the cylinder reaches the stapliner point. the shaft 18 is rocked by the cam Qt) to operate the, cam ring TT to bring the operatingr nose 7G of the cam into the path of the roll 73, as shown in Fig'. 3. which operaties the rock shaft il to withdraw the pins so that the collected product has been released at the. stapling point and the stapling is then e't fected.

T he pin rods will be operated at every revolution of the carrier and, when no collecting is to be done. the pin points St) ma)v be removed so as to lceep them out ot' the. nay ol! the sheets.

The operation ot the machine may be brietly described as tollows when collecting: lilith rel'erence to Figs. 1 to fl, on the lirst quarter turn ot the. cylinder the pin points S0 are project ed and taire the leading end ot the web Vv'. ln this position ot the carrier, the staple 'formingr members 2T, Q@ have been projected through the shaft 17 beyond the carrier Wall to take a n'ire lengt-h. 'lhe abutment slide at this point is in its rear position. its the carrier mal-:es its second halt revolution it has tali'en a` sheet around the carrier and its staple forn'iingmembers have been retracted, carrying the 'formed staple with them within the cylinder Wall, and the abutment slide is moving into operative position, the position ot the parts at this point beine shown in Fig. On the third bali turn ot the carrier, or the beginninfr ot the second revolution. the pin points 8O have been withdrawn beyond the periphery ot the cylinder and the cutting,r n1echanism is operated to sever the tirstsheet trom the web, this severed sheet beinfy associated with the next incoming sheet. The abutment slide has moved to its complete operative position between the legs ot the staple, the position ot the parts at this point being shown in Fig. 3. Un the next halt turn ot the carrier, the staple has been brought to stapling position, and the plunger is operated to insert the staple in the collected product, and the slide 51 has partially completed its backward movement so that the staple can be inserted in the sheet, the pins in the meantime have been operated so that they again project beyond the periphery of the cylinder to take the next sheet.

lVhile the invention has been shown and described in its preferred form, it will be understood that various constructions may be devised tor securingd the staple while it is being driven, and these devices may be operated in `various ways. The invention is therefore not to be restricted to the precise form ol abut-ment shown, or the means for operatival it7 and this abutment may be used in stapling mechanisms ot widely varying characters Without departingr from the 1nvention as detined in the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is:

1. The combination ot a rotary carrier, staple l'orming and inserting mechanisms carried thereby, means l'or operating the staple forming mechanism, means :for operating the staple inserting` mechanism, a support, and means controlled by the staple inserting nlechanism for positioningr the sltpport between the product and the inserting mechanism While the staple is being inserted in a product.

The combination ol' a rotary carrier, .staple 'torn'iingV and inserting mechanisms carried thereby= meansl l'or operating the staple termine` mechanism, means lor operating the staple inserting; mechanism, a support, means for positioningl the support between the product and the staple inserting;f mechanism while the staple being inserted in the product, and n4 eans tor ellectine` the stapliage, operation on every revolution ol the carrier or on alternate revolutions.

The con'ibination ot a rotary carrier, staple lorminfjr and inserting mechaiiisms carried thereby, means l'or inierating?r the staple forming mechanism, means l'or operating the staple inserting' mechanism, a support, means controlled by the staple inscrting' niechanism tor positioning the .support between the product and the. inserting mechanism while the staple is being inserted, and means for ellectingj the stapling operation on every revolution ot' the carrier or on alternate revolutions ol' the carrier.

t. 'l`he combination ol a colleetincy cylinder. sheet; taking;r devices carried thereby, staple forming and inserting,r mechanisms. means for operating the staple loi-miner mechanisn'i, means for operatingr the staple inserting mechanism, a support, means tor positioning' the support between the product and the inserting mechanism while the prod uct is being stapled, and means for operating the sheettaking;r devices to take and release a sheet.

The combination ot a collecting cvlinder, sheet taking devices carried thereby ple orminY and inserting n'iechanisms, means tor operating the staple forming mechanism, means 'for operating the staple inserting i'nechanism, a support, meansI for positioning the support between the product and the staple inserting mechanism while the staple is being inserted, and means controlled by the staple inserting mechanism for operating the sheet taking devices to take and release a sheet.

6. The combination of a rotary carrier, staple forming mechanism, a shaft for operating the mechanism, a staple driver, a. shaft for operating the .staple driver, a support, and means operated by the staple driver for positioning the support between the product and the driver during the stapling operation.

7. The combination of a rotary carrier, staple forming mechanism, a shaft for operating the mechanism, a staple driver, a shaft for operating the driver, a slide, and connections from the staple driver for reciprocating the slide to move it into a position between the product and the driver and to gradually Withdraw it as the stapling operation proceeds.

8, The combination of a rotary cylinder, sheet taking devices carried thereby, staple forming mechanism and means for operating it, a. staple driver, a shaft for operating the driver, a support, connections from the driver for reciprocating the support into position to support the staple While being driven, and connections from the driver shaft for operating the sheet taking devices to take and release a sheet. Y

9. The combination of a rotary cylinder, staple forming mechanism carried thereby, a cam for operating the staple forming mechanism, a staple driver, a shaft therefor, a cam for operating the driver shaft, a slide. and connections from the driver for reciprocating the slide into and out of the path of the staple as it is being driven.

10. The combination of a rotary cylinder, staple forming mechanism carried thereby, a cam for operating the staple forming mechanism, a staple driver, a shaft therefor, a cam for operating the driver shaft, a slide, connections from the driver for reciprocating the slide into and out of the path of the staple as it is being driven, and means for stopping the slide in either position.

ll. The combination of a rotary cylinder, staple forming mechanism carried thereby, means for operating the staple forming mechanism, a staple driver, means for oper ating the driver, a slide having a bevelled inner face, and means for operating the slide to position the bevelled face of the slide between the productand the staple driver.

l2. The combination of a rotary cylinder, staple forming mechanism, a staple driver, means for operating the driver,a staple supporting slide movable about the periphery of the cylinder, and connections for operating the slide in adirection reverse'to the movement of the driver.

13. The combination of a rotary cylinder, staple forming mechanism, a staple driver, means for operating the driver, a staple supporting slide movable about the periphery of the cylinder, and lever connections for operating the slidein a direction reverse to the movement of the driver.

le.` The combination of a rotary cylinder, staple forming mechanism, a staple driver, a plug in which thedriver Works having a bevelled face, means v for operating the driver, a slide having a bevelled face riding on the face of the plugand a curved opposite face, and means for reciprocating the slit e.

a cam for operating the staple forming mechanism, a staple driver, a shaft therefor, a cam for operating the driver shaft, a slide, connections from the driver for reciprocating the slide into and out of the path of the n staple forming mechanism carried thereby, a

cam for operating the staple forming mechanism, a staple driver, a shaft therefor, a cam for operating thedriver shaft, a slide, oonnections from the driver for moving the slide into and out of the path of the staple as it is being driven, connections controlled by the staple driver for operating the sheet taking devices, and means for effecting the stapling operation on every revolution of the carrier or on alternate revolutions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

l:animen P. sr-rnLDoN.

l5. The combination of a rotary cylinder, staple forming `mechanism carried thereby, 

